The thought that I might possibly not have gone to Morocco and collected my Moroccan Souvenirs is atrocious.
I hate to be rushed when travelling. “Slow Travel” should be our blog motto.
This addiction to slow and unhurried travel made me doubt our ability to squeeze Morocco into the already packed Two Month Itinerary of Spain and (Lisbon) Portugal.
Morocco was my dream for more than forty years.
Would Marty embrace Morocco with me?
Would we have enough time to go to my beloved Morocco?
To cut a long story short, we went and he did.
We both loved the adventure that is Morocco.
On our last night in Essaouira, down at the port taking photos of yet another fantastic sunset, watching promenading people and swooping seagulls, I spotted a lonely fisherman selling caps from a wooden cart.
The cart stood beside the cleanest squat toilet in the world, where the attendant had a green coat and enough cleaning products to make the fussiest housewife proud.
I wanted one last reminder of Essaouira – a final Moroccan Souvenir.
I had noticed retired fishermen knitting caps in the streets for days. Sitting on the battlements, lounging against walls, standing by their carts – knitting caps.
Eventually with both the Fisherman and Marty smiling indulgently, two were purchased.
Even though I didn’t know the true purpose of the caps, I had to have them.
Expertly made from chunky, coarse and greasy wool, the inside was as beautiful as the exterior, due to the expertly joined colours.
Back at home in Australia, they posed awkwardly around the house, one of the few things I had bothered to unpack!
They filled with knick knacks, they sat here and they sat there, but they did not look right.
Then tomatoes started ripening in the garden. Pale yellow, dark red, perfectly round, misshapen, tiny and fat. They accumulated in disarray, until my eyes settled on an ideal tomato container.
So attractive and sturdy, yet flexible and breathable.
My last minute Moroccan Souvenir – the two Fishermans Caps.
They happily stored ripening tomatoes on the kitchen bench, before shifting to the shelf in the fridge.
The best tomato storers in the world and they look right at home.
Moroccan Souvenirs – Fishermans Caps from Essaouria and plate from Safi, north of Essaouira.
In Tropical North Queensland, Rainbow Lorikeets squawk in Golden Pendas and White Cockatoos screech from the branches of our old dead tree.
But my heart is smiling joyously…
at the sounds of monster seagulls wheeling above the port town of Essaouria Morocco and a lone fisherman selling caps.
Does your heart smile at your souvenirs?
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I’ve been told that Morroco is beautiful and your pictures show that. I’d love to go and visit the colorful marketplaces. Maybe one of these days.
It is Tonya, although we did experience culture shock when we first arrived in Marrakech! Different people experience different things. A close friend of ours went to Morocco before we did and he got hassled by people, but we did not. I thought maybe it was because we were older so were left alone, but he said no, he was older people and they got hassled as well. Who knows – all I know is that we loved it.
Before sitting down to post on TPThursday I finished a fabulous novel set in Spain, Portugal and Morocco (The Time in Between) which is set in the time between the Spanish War and WWII. . .I think you’d love it. And it has me thirsting to go to Morocco. Thanks for a great post.
Thanks Jackie, I do love reading about places I would like to travel to, or have been to, but I usually limit myself to non-fiction. I guess The time in between, would be based on fact? Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Jan
Ha ha! We seem to be married to the same type of man. We have only been married 8 years and yet he barely has an opinion on where we go at this point. He just assumes I’ll take us somewhere fabulous and he will read the guidebook and figure out what he wants to see when we get there.
I am so glad you got to live your dream and see Morocco. It was definitely a very good choice. I haven’t been yet but it is certainly on my list, as is Spain.
Here’s to more adventures! And a whole lot of slow travel 😉
Thanks Keryn, I think Marty just wants me to be happy with the choice so he lets me choose. Once we are there he is very hands on. He is good with public transport and after I present him with the options he is very good at getting it all to happen. Suits us fine. We both loved Spain and Lisbon as well. I think this was one of the best holidays we have had.
Jan
I love bringing back a little memento of a trip that reminds me of the fabulous time we had there. Usually it’s a plate or a bowI but I love how you made the caps work for you. I enjoyed Morocco whilst we were there but it is not a country I would go back to….there’s so many other places to see!
I agree Jenny that it is hard to return to a country, even if you loved it, because there are so many others to see first.
Jan
I would love to visit Morocco someday. It just has exotic written all over it. Those caps are absolutely beautiful and what a fun and wonderful way to put it to use. What a great souvenir! Love that sunset photo.
Hi Mary, The caps are great and I love that I use them every day. Sunsets in Essaouira are essential and everyone comes down to have a look.
Jan
Great article, thank you (^_^)
Glad you enjoyed it Muza-chan.
Jan
I love this post! I’m not sure Morroco would have been on my lists, but now it is. Your pictures and descriptions are fantastic. I love the caps, and can’t even imagine a clean squat toilet. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Hi Juliann, I think Morocco is one country you won’t know if you will like it until you actually go there. Essaouria is much more relaxed than Marrakech, but the Djemma El Fna square in Marrakech is a must see! I love my caps!
Jan
It sounds like our husband/wife dynamic with regards to trip planning is very similar. I am glad that you didn’t miss Morroco and thank you for sharing the wonderful pictures. And, yes, I think my heart is in the habit of smiling, but your reminder gave it a little practice.:)
Hi Jessica, I am glad I get to plan our trips and that your heart has remembered it likes smiling. Plus I love sharing our photos! Jan
Thanks for the retweet.
Jan
Cool, thanks for the retweet.
Jan
Thanks for the retweet. Much appreciated.